Washington Post Tesla Fire hit piece

[tpoltron]

This pisses me off. I wonder if this is Bezos poking back at Elon?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/28/tesla-battery-fire/

I wonder where they found these experts:
“Experts say electric cars catch fire at a similar rate to gas cars, if not less often”

Then they go on to paint how the retractable handles make them a death trap.

 

[shieldsbrown]

Agreed. And this fire doesn't seem to be anywhere near the battery. What lives behind the passenger front tire?

 

[tpoltron]

Agreed. And this fire doesn't seem to be anywhere near the battery. What lives behind the passenger front tire?

I believe the battery extends that far forward and is designed to vent flames out to the sides to protect the occupants.

 

[ucmndd]

Based on the description, maybe a control arm failure at speed led to battery puncture?

 

[tpoltron]

Also I expect this FUD is far more damaging than people think. A year ago I was waiting in the lobby of the window tinting shop and the guy next to me had just bought his wife a nice safe Volvo. He never even considered a Tesla cause he had heard they burn so often.

 

[AMPd]

Also I expect this FUD is far more damaging than people think. A year ago I was waiting in the lobby of the window tinting shop and the guy next to me had just bought his wife a nice safe Volvo. He never even considered a Tesla cause he had heard they burn so often.

But how many people actually purchase cars based off something they heard, rather than doing the research themselves. Can’t be too many

 

[tpoltron]

But how many people actually purchase cars based off something they heard, rather than doing the research themselves. Can’t be too many

to be more specific, I should have said: He never even considered a Tesla cause he had got the impression they burn often, mostly from things he had read.

 

[MXLRplus]

This will remain a persistent myth for the foreseeable future. Even EV owners are guilty to an extent since some of them relish and repeat stories about other EV brands igniting.

But in general, the media is coming around. Who would have thought this article would have 5 out of 7 cars as EVs? <--- Fox News saying most the "exciting" cars this year will be EVs.

 

[SO16]

Also I expect this FUD is far more damaging than people think. A year ago I was waiting in the lobby of the window tinting shop and the guy next to me had just bought his wife a nice safe Volvo. He never even considered a Tesla cause he had heard they burn so often.

You should have shown that guy this article...
Volvo recalls more than 500,000 cars worldwide over fire risk

 

[Owner]

I agree, I thought this article was not well served. What is the point other than to scare away the general public? It would be one thing if the Washington Post talked about electric cars regularly and this was one of 50 articles.

 

[SO16]

I agree, I thought this article was not well served. What is the point other than to scare away the general public? It would be one thing if the Washington Post talked about electric cars regularly and this was one of 50 articles.

I think that author often writes Tesla FUD articles.

 

[Droschke]

I agree, I thought this article was not well served. What is the point other than to scare away the general public? It would be one thing if the Washington Post talked about electric cars regularly and this was one of 50 articles.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...rch=&sort=Relevance&datefilter=All Since 2005

 

[trayloader]

I guess there´s more to the story.
If You read the other news sites, his wive said he made a U-Turn, the opposite street he approached clearly looks raised, in addition to the curb next to the car seeming severely damaged/scraped. Furthermore the guy himself stated he heard a sound like a "gearshift screech", that to me sounds he either scraped the battery pack by going "uphill" or hit the curb (which then maybe broke the control arm etc.). This also doesn´t look like a battery fire, but a coolant one, plus it seemed only on the passenger side. The iphone clip seemed like firemen had no issue putting it out.

 

[glide]

Agreed. And this fire doesn't seem to be anywhere near the battery. What lives behind the passenger front tire?

The battery.

Let me guess...another 85 battery up in flames? The NHTSA is going to come down on Tesla like a ton of bricks when they conclude Tesla was attempting to skirt a safety recall through software.

 

[2101Guy]

all that said? TSLA is still up as of 12:57pm today. Hit piece or not.

Tesla cant be stopped at this point. When real competition hits the market? Maybe. But right now? in 2020? Cant be stopped.

 

[MP3Mike]

I guess there´s more to the story.
If You read the other news sites, his wive said he made a U-Turn,

Do you have a link to these other stories?

 

[trayloader]

here are more images, plus the statement from his wive:

Another Tesla Model S Self-Ignites, Now In Texas: Owners Want Answers

I repeat- a battery fire looks different. Will be interesting what the research brings to light.

 

[Cleo-n-Company]

Tone down the FUD paranoia just a bit. I seriously doubt the Washington Post has a secret cadre of editors sending out reporters to publish hit pieces on Tesla.

A burning Tesla with video on the internet makes for an easy and visual piece. It's a fact it occurred. It's not a fact that everyone is out to "get you" as a Tesla owner or investor.

Something to consider as well. Mr. Musk makes himself an endlessly welcome target. He tweets incessantly, says stupid and combative things all the time (I'm insulted ! Tim Cook wouldn't take a meeting with me !). So the company often reaps what HE sows.

 

[SO16]

Tone down the FUD paranoia just a bit. I seriously doubt the Washington Post has a secret cadre of editors sending out reporters to publish hit pieces on Tesla.

A burning Tesla with video on the internet makes for an easy and visual piece. It's a fact it occurred. It's not a fact that everyone is out to "get you" as a Tesla owner or investor.

Something to consider as well. Mr. Musk makes himself an endlessly welcome target. He tweets incessantly, says stupid and combative things all the time (I'm insulted ! Tim Cook wouldn't take a meeting with me !). So the company often reaps what HE sows.

The headline sounds kinda dramatic to me.

“A Tesla Model S erupted ‘like a flamethrower.’ It renewed old safety concerns about the trailblaz...”

it seems most of his Tesla articles are to the negative.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/faiz-siddiqui/

 

[drtimhill]

Chuckles: "Experts say electric cars catch fire at a similar rate to gas cars, if not less often"

They probably meant to say "if not more often", since "if not less often" means EVs catch fire less often than ICE.